My All Time Favourite Skincare Products

Hey lovelies,

Today I thought I'd feature my all time favourite skincare products that as of yet I will continually repurchase as I so far find these are the best of the best. Especially, as I beauty blog I do try a wide range of skincare so it does take a lot for a product to stand out to me and get me to repurchase.

1. Emma Hardie Amazing Face Cleansing Balm (My review | Link) | Link - I've adored this stuff ever since my very first purchase way, way back in 2009 and since then continuously go back to this every single time, no matter what balm I've previously tried this stuff always comes out on top. This is great for all skin types of all ages and I recommend it to anyone that wants clear, healthy skin.
2. Clarisonic Mia 2 | Link - This isn't photographed above but is a product I've now owned for about 2-3 years and can't really imagine my skin without it. It honestly made such a dramatic difference to my skin and I notice a difference straight away when I stop using it. I have a review upcoming for this in the next couple of weeks so keep an eye out, as it will also feature my review on the decongested clarisonic set. 
3. Origins Drink Up Intensive and Origins Drink Up Face Masks | Link - These two are honestly great and I continuously use these interchangeably. I prefer the intensive more during the winter months and the general Drink Up during the summer when my skin isn't as dehydrated. I also think these are fab to use on long plane flights where your skin always gets a bit dry and yucky. 
4. Caudalie Beauty Elixr (My review | Link) | Link - This skin beautifying spray is perfect all year round, but especially during the summer when your skin needs a quick refresh. I adore using this in so many different ways from using it as my toner in the morning with my skincare routine, using it as a primer for my foundation, using it to set my makeup and to give it a more natural/glowy look or to even refresh my face throughout the day. Overall, this is just a great product that smells delightful and I get along with perfectly.
5. Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate | Link - This oil is beautiful and smells absolutely amazing, I've had this for about a year now and I've still got more than 3/4 of the bottle left! Which is amazing to say I use it nearly 3-4 times a week. I've got a post upcoming of a review of this oil that will be going up soon so check that out to find out more and how to use it.
6. La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo + | Link - This has been a staple in my skincare for so long I can barely remember what it was like not to use this. The Effaclar Duo is another great product to use in many different ways, from as a light daytime moisturiser, a spot treatment or a primer. This works even for the most sensitive of skin types so if you're more on the dry side, don't hesitate!
7. Origins A Perfect World Moisturiser | Link - I love this stuff so much!! This is my first ever jar of this coca-cola smelling moisturiser and I can already confidently say that it won't be my last. I use it as a nighttime mosituriser and adore the effect it leaves on my skin for the next day. It's softer, smoother and hydrated. 
8. Pixi Glow Tonic | Link - This chemical exfoliator is perfect for absolutely any skin type. It's designed to resurface and revitalise the skin whilst also soothing this skin. Therefore, resulting in glowing, luminous, smooth skin. The likes of infamous Caroline Hiron's adores this product, which just shows how much this is a must have for anyones skincare stash.
9. Bioderma Sensibo H20 | Link - My must have product for taking off any and all eye make up, and the addition of the rest of my make up, It's perfect because it gets everything off without me having to tug my skin nor does it irritate it.

Thanks for reading!

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My Basic Skincare Must Haves

Hey lovelies,

Today I thought I'd do a feature today where I showcase all my basic must have skincare products and my recommendations for each one. As understandably skincare can get quite confusing and when there are so many products to choose from you can easily get overwhelmed and unsure as to what you need to buy and what you don't. Skincare, I personally feel, is the most important part of your regime - more so than makeup. As, if your skin looks good a) you'll need less makeup and b) your makeup will apply a hell of a lot easier. After a quick description of each product there will be a few of my recommendations at the end, with a high end and a drugstore choice.

1. Makeup Remover

A decent makeup remover that works well on both the eyes and skin is key. As you want something gentle around the eyes, so that you don't have to tug, but also something that can remove your foundation. I'd recommend either a micellar water as they're light and super gentle and work, or a cleansing oil as they're a bit heavier but take everything off with major skin benefits. Both work well for either skin types. I own both a micellar water and a cleansing oil, purely because I find the micellar water is easier to travel with. (As seen in my photo, I've decanted it into a smaller, travel-size bottle)

Recommendations: BioDerma Sensibo | Link, Garnier Cleansing Micellar Water | Link,  Superfacialist Vitamin C+ Skin Renew Cleansing Oil (Review) | Link, The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil (Review) | Link

2. Cleanser

Cleansing your skin is super important and shouldn't get mixed up with removing your makeup. Makeup remover takes off your makeup, whereas a cleanser actually cleans your skin and gets inside all your dirty pores (lovely image!). You always go in with a cleanser after you've removed your makeup. Out of every skincare product, cleansers are very subjective to skincare types but personally I recommend ones that actually leave my skin feeling clean and soft, but not dry or tight. I also have quite sensitive skin so something suited to sensitive skin is perfect for me! My favourite types of cleansers are either gel or balm cleansers - gel are normally better suited to combination to oily skin types whereas balms are universal. 

Recommendations: Lancome Gel Eclat (Suitable for all types) | Link, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (All skin types - especially sensitive) | Link, Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm (All types) (Review) | Link, LUSH Ultraband (All types) | Link

3. Exfoliators

Exfoliation is really important for removing dead skin cells and maintaining a glow to your skin. I'd recommend doing once to twice depending on how dry your skin is. Personally, I find exfoliators can be quite difficult to buy as many I've tried have been super harsh and have made my skin worse! I recommend either using a gentle exfoliator/scrub or using a chemical toner as they can be used everyday and are a lot more gentle.

Recommendations: Pixi Glow Tonic | Link,  Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub | Link, St Ives Apricot Scrub | Link

4. Toners

Now, some people believe toners are a pointless task and don't really do anything, but I adore a good toner. They're super refreshing and really calm my skin down. I've already done a post on my all time current favourite two toners, but toners are an all round great product. I recommend buying ones without alcohol in as then they can become super harsh on the skin.

Recommendations: LUSH Eau Roma Water (Review) | Link, LUSH Tea Tree Toner | Link, Kiehls Oil Eliminator Toner (Review) | Link, Caudalie Beauty Elixr (Review) | Link

5. SPF

SPF is super important no matter if the weather is rainy or cloudy, you should still protect your skin with a minimum of 25 SPF. I normally apply my SPF over my moisturiser but under my makeup, so I prefer a SPF that isn't greasy or slimy.

Recommendations: Clarins UV+ SPF 50 | Link, Kiehls Ultra Light Daily Defense SPF 50 | Link, Olay Complete Daily Defense SPF 30 | Link

6. Eye Cream

Looking after your under eye is a necessity, especially because it's so delicate. I have pretty bad dark circles, so I sometimes like to have a brightening eye cream for daytime and a more heavier, moisturising one to go to bed with.

Recommendations: The Body Shop Vitamin E Eye Cream (Review) | Link, Simple Kind To Eyes Roll On (Mornings only) | Link, Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado | Link, Botanics Radiant Youth Hydrating Eye Cream | Link,  Origins GinZing Eye Cream (Mornings only) | Link

7. Moisturiser

Besides cleansing and SPF, this is one of the most important steps in a skincare routine. No matter whether you're super dry or extremely oily moisturising your face is extremely important. Especially in the morning before you apply your makeup as it essentially lays a base for your foundation and other products to stick to. Now I have oily skin so I mainly shop for moisturisers suited to my skin type, but I will recommend a few for others.

Recommendations: LUSH Enzymion (Oily/Combo) | Link, Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser (All types) (Review) | Link, Origins GinZing (All types) | Link, Origins A Perfect World (Normal/Dry) | Link

Thank you for reading,

The Body Shop Aloe Skincare Collection Review {Sensitive Skin}

Hey lovelies,

Today I'm doing a review on one of my all time favourite skincare brands: 'The Body Shop'.  Nearly all products I've tried from there I've enjoyed, their packaging is also always adorable and I love that each skincare collection is categorised based on particular skincare concerns. Previous to this I have reviewed their entire seaweed collection which is aimed at combination skintypes - which I am. You can have a read of that by clicking this link.

Basics:
Brand: The Body Shop
Name of Product: Aloe Calming Facial Cleanser, Aloe Gentle Face Wash, Aloe Soothing Night Cream, Aloe Soothing Moisture Lotion SPF 15Purpose of Product: Soothe sensitive skin, irritation and reduce signs or irritation or rednessPrice: Cleanser: £8.50 | Link , Face Wash: £8.50 | Link , Night Cream: £12.00 | Link , Lotion: £12.00 | Link
Where to buy: The Body ShopHow Much Product Do You Get: Cleanser: 200ml, Face Wash: 150ml, Night Cream: 50ml, Lotion: 50mlAimed For: Sensitive Skin - including anyone that has redness, irritation or possible allergies (would have to double check ingredients)

How To Use

For mornings I first go in with the 'Calming Facial Cleanser' to gently remove any dirty - especially around my sensitive eyes. Then, I wash my face with the 'Gentle Face Wash', then after toning I apply the 'Moisture Lotion'. At night time, I still use the 'Calming Facial Cleanser' to clean my skin - I either use it first on days where I haven't worn makeup or second after using a cleansing oil on days where I have. Then, after completing my night time skincare routine I go in with the 'Night Cream'.

Pro's 

Personally I'm a massive fan so far of this whole range because it does what it says on the tin - soothes sensitive skin. I've noticed when using these products my skin hasn't been as itchy nor as red looking which is great for me as I can now get away with using less foundation! My all time favourite product out of the bunch is the 'Night Cream', its thick and luxurious and lovely to apply to face but doesn't leave my oily-combination skin greasy in the morning. I also adore how gentle the 'Calming Facial Cleanser' is - as I can get away with using it on my eyes without irritating them. I also think the packaging is simple and easy to work with, furthermore the price points for these products are great. Especially, due to the fact The Body Shop has regular sales and offers on online and instore.

Con's

Overall, I don't have any major negatives to say about the products apart from how I felt they worked with my skin. As even though my skin is pretty sensitive, it's also a combination-oily mess so finding the right balance can be tricky. For example, as gentle as the 'Face Wash' was I found it didn't really clean my skin nor get rid of any of the grime that had built up over the night. Furthermore, I'm honestly not a massive fan of the aloe fragrance but have grown used to it due me using this skincare. I also wasn't a massive fan of the 'Moisture Lotion', as even though it has SPF it isn't very high to make much of a difference. I also find it left a white cast on my skin and made me super oily after only two hours of wear!

Should I Buy It?/Do I Recommend?

Overall, I definitely do recommend The Body Shop Aloe Skincare collection and will most definitely be purchasing other products from the line. Out of the products mentioned I would definitely recommend buying the cleanser and the night cream as I personally feel any - and all - skin types will work well with these two products.

Rating

7/10

Thank you for reading!

I hope you found this helpful, and please don't hesitate to check out any of my other social media,

Clarins HydraQuench Lotion SPF 15 Review

Hey lovelies!

Today my post is reviewing the Clarins lotion I bought after receiving a facial from them on my birthday last year! (The facials are honestly amazing!)

I was recommended this moisturiser due to the fact I have combination skin, that even though it's pretty darn oily it's extremely dehydrated around the cheek area. Therefore, the lovely lady I had told me it's more important that I keep my skin hydrated before I try controlling my oil - as hydrating my skin should help that anyway. She recommended me the lotion as it's much lighter and more suitable for everyday use compared to the creams and gels that are also in the HydraQuench line.

Review

Now onto the review, overall I have a love-hate relationship with this moisturiser, giving it an overall rating of 4 stars.

Link

I really loved this lotion because it did make a massive difference to my skin leaving my whole face super soft and smooth all over after applying it and hours later into the day. Therefore, meaning the dehydrated parts of my face (especially my cheeks) have been a lot less dehydrated and more plump which is great for days when I'm not wearing any make-up. It also didn't irritate my skin nor break me out, this means a lot to me as I have super sensitive skin. Also, the fact it's extremely lightweight and contains SPF 15 means it's a great daytime moisturiser. This leads me onto the scent, the smell of this lotion isn't amazing but I don't hate it either. The smell mainly reminds me of sunscreen (most probably due to the SPF in the lotion.) I also adore the packaging of this product as it's so easy and mess-free to use, with it clearly displaying how much product is left (so you know when you need to go out and buy another). Also the inside part lifts up with use, meaning you get to use up every last drop!

But, there were also things about this moisturiser that I didn't like. For example, the fact it only has SPF 15 isn't enough for my pale, sensitive skin. Even though I live in the UK and we hardly get any sun as it is, I prefer to have a moisturiser with an SPF around the 25 area. Also, I've found that even though it's a lotion and is extremely lightweight it hasn't helped at all with my oily areas, still leaving me a slippery mess around my nose (not attractive.)  Furthermore, I'm not a massive fan of how it sits under makeup and actually prefer using this when I'm going bare faced as some of my reliable, loved foundations turned into a mess when I applied them after this. It can also take quite a while to sink in, which is honestly quite shocking when you feel how light it is, especially if I apply it to a damp face - something I normally do. As, I like to apply my moisturisers straight after washing my face to lock in moisturiser. Although Caroline Hirons, skincare guru, has made a point that moisturisers that do sink in immediately to the skin aren't normally the best actually for your skin.

So, overall I don't think I will repurchase this product - but I do recommend anyway with normal to combination skin that struggles with sensitivity and dehydration to try this product! If you are interested in buying this moisturiser you can purchase it here.


Thank you for reading,

Samples Review

Hello lovelies!

First of all I'd like to say a humongous apology for not updating my blog. I had a lot going on in the last few months, from university to exams! But now everything has calmed back down I feel I can finally devote my time back to this! A while back I received a tonne of free samples and have been meaning to do a review on them. I no longer have every single piece of packaging as once some had emptied I ended up throwing them away - so even though you can't see them they did exist!

A bulk of samples I received were from Kiehls - a brand that does pretty pricey skincare and I haven't really tried much from. But, previously I'd only heard raving reviews so was ultimately super excited to try anything and everything they threw at me. The first thing they sent me was the 'Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser', which is designed to eliminate toxins and reduce the appearance of pores. I absolutely adored this and have already purchased the actual size. This didn't irritate my sensitive skin and left it unbelievably smooth; I used this as a morning cleanser. Second item I received was the 'Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Eye Cream', which I used nightly. I obviously don't have any wrinkles yet but I still really enjoyed using it. This is supposed to strengthen the under eye area, which is perfect for me as I have extremely bad dark circles - so hopefully after a more prolonged use it could reduce it. The third and final product by Kiehls was the famous 'Skin Rescuer', a moisturiser I used/use every night. This is honestly amazing and would recommend to anyone with dry or dehydrated skin, or just patches of redness. I'd heard multiple YouTuber's raving about this so was nervous about testing it, but after applying it at night and waking up in the morning all the redness has either gone or been extremely subdued on my cheeks! I repurchased this straight away after using the sample and believe this has now become a staple in my skincare.

The next sample I received was Sunday Riley's 'Good Genes', which is supposed to be a brightening, anti-age treatment/mask. I used this as a mask and found it left my skin red, really dry and tight. Also, it tingles quite a lot so for people with sensitive skin like myself, beware. So for the jaw-dropping price it is, I would not recommend it.

Philosophy was the next in line to be tested and I'd luckily received the much talked about 'Purity Made Simple' cleanser. This is a pretty simple cleanser that can be used for both the face and eyes, and doesn't actually irritate my eyes. I'd recommend this to a beginner to cleansers/skincare and any type of skin type - it worked lovely on my sensitive skin. I found this worked best applying to a cotton wool pad, rather than applying it directly to the face. But, ever since trying this out with my Clarisonic I've realised it's true potential! Furthermore, it smells lovely and you hardly need a large amount so even though it's quite pricey for how simple it is, it will last you ages.

Next up was the Body Shop with their 'Rainforest Moisture Hair Butter', which is supposed to leave hair soft, glossy and tangle-free. Unfortunately, for me even though the smell was a lovely fruity/foresty smell the product just didn't do anything for my hair. All it did was leave my hair heavy and waxy.

And last but not least, I tried the GlamGlow 'BrightMud Eye Treatment', that is designed to basically make your eyes look super awake and reduce your dark circles. As soon as I saw the claim on reducing dark circles I was instantly excited about trying it out. But sadly it didn't follow through, I found it stunk and product was awfully awkward to apply. And then after all the hassle of sorting it out and dealing with the stench it then did absolutely nothing, so for the price I most certainly would not recommend.

Thank you for reading,
Victoria Louise x

June Favourites

Hey lovelies,
It's finally time to showcase my monthly favourites! Now I realise the last time I did a favourites was way, way back in the bitter days of February, check out here, but I've managed to narrow down my much-loved products to my top five.

From L-R: Clean & Clear Wash, Kiehls Moisturiser, Jurlique Serum,
Botanics BB Cream & The Body Shop Shower Gel

Skincare

My first major favourites at the moment have been in the skincare category, purely because during the summer months I wear less make-up so I like my skin to look it's best as easy as possible.

1. Clean & Clear 'Morning Energy' Daily Facial Wash. Now, I adore this for multiple reasons; it's cheap, smells lovely - like oranges, definitely wakes me up in the morning and doesn't leave my face feeling tight like most face washes. It claims to contain bursting beads which I can honestly say aren't harsh or abrasive, if anything I barely notice them. Furthermore, the product is oil-free which is great for my combination skin, especially in summer. Even more so, I really like the packaging as it's easy to dispense just the right amount of product and you can easily see how much you have left, so I know when to go buy more. I've also enjoyed using another face wash previously which has also featured in a monthly favourites here.
2. Kiehl's 'Skin Rescuer'. Even though this is pretty pricey it is definitely worth it! It is purely amazing and removes nearly all the redness from my face and leaves my skin feeling so soft I have to restrain from sitting and stroking it, weird I know. I normally apply this to my face at night purely because I like to have a moisturiser during the day to be more light-weight and contain SPF. I would recommend this to anyone with dry, dehydrated, sensitive or combination skin!
3. Jurlique's 'Herbal Recovery' Advanced Serum. Now, yet again another pretty pricey skincare product but is most definitely worth it! I'm not going to go into much detail as a full review will be coming up shortly on my blog but this is amazing and everyone should definitely check it out.

Make-Up & Body Care

Now I don't have many make-up favourites mainly because I've not been wearing any apart from when I go out at night so I thought I'd merge my body care and makeup category together.

1. Boots Botanics 'BB Radiant Youth Cream'. Now, this stuff is amazing for how affordable it is! It's got an SPF of 30 which is perfect for summer and has quite a creamy texture but feels lightweight on the skin. It also leaves my skin looking healthy, glowy and dewy and I find it lasts a good 4/5 hours on the skin before I start having to touch up with powder. I have it in the shade 'Light' and my only slight letdown is that I wish they did a lighter shade as I find this is a bit too dark for me at the moment.
2. The Body Shop 'Raspberry Shower Gel'. This is just a really nice shower gel that smells amazing and leaves me feeling ready for the day. Definitely will be repurchasing!

Thank you for reading!

Please don't hesitate to comment with your monthly favourites and don't forget to follow me on BlogLovin!

Victoria Louise x

Amie Skincare Review {Inc. Facial Wash, Clay Mask & Matte Moisturiser}

Hey lovelies!
Today I thought I'd do a big review on a skincare brand I've been obsessing over for about 6 months now. The brand is called 'Amie' and prizes itself on being suited for sensitive, young skin due to being free of harsh chemicals and containing natural and plant extracts. So, being as my skin is young and sensitive, naturally I was dying to try it out.

The first is the Amie Morning Clear Purifying Facial Wash,  for £4.95. I love this wash as it doesn't strip my face due to it being super creamy and I feel is really good for my skin as it doesn't leave it feeling tight. But, it also doesn't majorly clean my skin either. So, I'd only recommend this for super young/sensitive skin but not anyone with oily/acne prone skin. As I feel this is maybe so delicate that it's not enough to fully clean my skin.

Secondly, is the Amie Spring Clean Cooling Clay Mask, for £7.49. This is my all-time favourite product by Amie and is now one of my all-time favourite face masks! It's soft, gentle and smells delicious! I also love how well it cools my skin and the fact I can not just feel it working but afterwards I can see the difference of how it's cleared up my skin. Furthermore, I love how it doesn't upset any of my skin, especially the dry areas which normally break down when I use clay masks and that it's green which reminds me of the traditional face mask. I would recommend this to everybody and anybody!

Finally, the Amie Morning Dew Matte-Finish Moisturiser, for £4.95. Now, this is my least favourite product of Amie's not really because it's bad but merely because it just doesn't do anything! I know it doesn't state to have any magical properties but still every time I went to use it, I found myself wishing it did. The only thing I would say this is good for would be as a base if you know going to have photos taken, due to it having no SPF and being matte you wouldn't get the shiny, white ghost look. I wouldn't really recommend this anyone but if I had to it would be oily skin types due to it being a matte moisturiser.

Thank you for reading!
I hope you found this helpful if you're considering trying out this brand or looking for a new skincare item,
please don't forget to subscribe and/or follow me on BlogLovin!
Victoria Louise x